USA > Massachusetts > Wearing the blue in the Twenty-fifth Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division, 18th army corps, and Army of the James > Part 11
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Occasionally our pickets exchanged fire with some of the enemy prowling about our lines, and several reconnoissances and scouting parties relieved the monotony of outpost duty. On the 17th June, a detail of thirty men of Company K, and twenty of Company G, under Lieutenant Harrington, marched to Tuscarora to protect a party engaged in taking measure- ments for a new railway bridge. The enemy's pickets were driven in and the object attained.
Our readers have heard of " clay caters " in the South, a habit that is followed only by a class of the " white trash," so far as our observation extends. This class is known as " dirt eaters "-if they lived at the North, they might be mud-sills, but, in North Carolina, they form a part of the much boasted chivalry. From early childhood, the devotees to this dirt-cating habit, have been its slaves, for, strange
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as it may seem, it becomes such a habit, that it cannot be , conquered. Those who practice cating clay have a sallow, sickly complexion. One of this class may be easily detected by his general appearance. This practice, however, is not so prevalent, as that of " dipping snuff," which, in some parts of the South, is almost universal.
On the 5th day of June, the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers had an engagement with the enemy on the Pactolus road, on Tranter's creek, some twelve miles above Washington, N. C. A.considerable force of the enemy, under Colonel Singletary, had gathered in that vicinity, and, an attack upon them being contemplated, the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts was concentrated at Washington. On Thursday morning, June 5th, the force designed for the attack moved out under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis A. Osborn, consisting of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, Company I of the Third New York Cavalry, Captain Jocknick, and a detachment of How- ard's Marine Artillery. The gunboat Picket proceeded up Tar river, shelling the woods. Reaching the position held by the enemy, skirmishers moved forward, after which, three compa- nies of infantry joined the artillery in a well directed fire upon the enemy. A charge was ordered and gallantly made, when the enemy fled down the creek and vanished through the woods, leaving three of their dead behind, and also a large quantity of camp cquipage. The Twenty-fourth Massachusetts lost six killed and eight wounded, among the latter were Captain Redding and Lieutenant Jarves of Company A. The Marine Artillery lost Wm. H. Moore, Captain of Gun, killed, and three wounded. The action lasted forty-five minutes.
Early in July, [1862] a heavy blow fell upon the army in North Carolina, by the withdrawal of the Second and Third Brigades, under Generals Reno and Parke, to Virginia. These troops, among whom were the Twenty-first Massachusetts, Ninth and Fifty-first New York and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, had performed efficient service, and their going
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left many sad hearts behind. About the middle of July, General Burnside closed his honored connection with the service in the old North State, and went to Virginia, leaving General Foster in command of the District of North Carolina. This change left us with only about five thousand foot and one thousand horse with which to hold our possessions, compelling a contraction of our lines and inactivity for some months. The territory held by the Federal troops covered an area of at least six hundred miles.
ATTACK , UPON WASHINGTON, N. C.
Early in the morning of September 6th, [1862] our garrison of eleven companies and six pieces of artillery, including two companies of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, was surprised by the sudden and unannounced appearance of the enemy, within the very limits of the town. The outlying pickets neither heard or saw an approaching enemy. The pickets are the protectors of the main army. If the pickets allow their vigilance to slumber, all is lost. It is like raising the water-gate of a mill-pond. The water rushes out. At Washington the pickets left the gate open. The enemy rushed in, and nobody cried : " who goes there ? "
A garrison surprised is a garrison confused -- there are no orders-there is for a time no head. Every man catches whatever defensive weapon is nearest at hand and swings out right and left. For a time, the movements are aimless. The soldier runs hither and thither-he is joined by the frightened women and children, by those who can only impede and add to the confusion and disorder. The enemy ride furiously into the town -down this street, and up the other. As they ride, they fire-they strike quick blows with their sabres, they catch fleeing men by the hair, cut their throats, leaving them welter- ing in their blood. They ride over the wounded, who groan, struggle and die. There is no mercy. It is horrible. It was horrible in Washington that morning. Soldiers fired upon
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each other, and that, in war, is right. It is better if they wound or kill when they fire upon each other. That is duty. But the enemy cut down unarmed, inoffensive men -murdered them in cold blood. Worse than that; they ruthlessly killed the innocent babe at the breast, and the mother who tried to defend her babe. That was horrible and inexcusable.
The morning was foggy, and the enemy took advantage of the fog, in stealing in without being seen by the pickets. After the first panic was over and our troops began to concentrate, there was some sharp fighting. Washington was at last aroused, and brave leaders appeared. At length the fog gave way for the smoke, and then the two gunboats, the Picket and Louisiana joined in the defence. It became decidedly too hot for the intruders, and so, without standing upon the formalities of leave-taking, they rode away. There was left in the town an astonished garrison-dead men, women and children.
During their brief stay, the enemy performed many acts of . cruelty. In one instance, some of the rebels seized a citizen and were dragging him away as a conscript. The wife, with a. young child in her arms, rushed out and begged them not to take away her husband: a demon let his sabre crash upon. her skull, splitting her head in two parts, while another shot the innocent babe through the heart.
In this onslaught the enemy lost thirty-three killed and one hundred wounded. Our loss was eight killed and thirty-six wounded. We also lost four guns. During the action, the gunboat Picket was blown up by the explosion of her maga- zine. By this accident, nineteen of those on board were killed. Captain Thomas O'Neill of the Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts, happened to be in Washington for a few days at the time of this attack, and went into the fight in dead carnest. He had several narrow escapes, and performed some gallant deeds of heroism.
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NAVAL EXPEDITION. 129
An expedition commanded by Captain Flusser of the navy, consisting of three gunboats, the Commodore Perry, Captain Flusser ; Ceres, Captain McDiarmid, and the Shawsheen, Captain Woodward, with one company of the Ninth New York Volunteers, Captain Hammell, went up the Roanoke river [July 9th, 1862] as far as Hamilton. At Williamston they broke the barricade of the river and found the enemy ambushed. A warm engagement ensued. The rebel steamer Wilson came down and commenced firing. A shell from the Ceres cleared her decks. The Wilson was captured. At Hamilton the rebel fortification was captured after a short fight. Of our force in this affair, two were killed and twelve wounded.
BEAUFORT, N. C. :
During July of 1862, the writer, suffering from malarial fever, was permitted by General Foster to go to Beaufort, N. C., with the belief that a few days of rest in that sca-girt town would complete a restoration to health. Sergeant Edward T. Raymond [afterwards promoted First-Lieutenant and Captain in the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers] who had been quite sick, but was then convalescent, accom- panied him, and both took quarters at the substantial hostelry which was at that time very liberally patronized by seekers after health and pleasure.
To give some definite idea how soldiers fared and suffered when on " sick leave," we give the supper bill of fare at our table d'hôte : fried soft crabs ; mullet ; oysters; fried and baked flounders ; beefsteak ; broiled chicken ; biscuits ; bread and butter; honey ; tea and coffee, and ice-water. Upon that bill of fare he made a tolerable repast, and remarked that he felt better.
From our diary we take an account of the General Hospital, located at Beaufort, and where many of our siek soldiers were
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sent, [We give the excerpt just as it was written at the time.]
" I visited the General Hospital this morning. The building occupied was formerly a very large hotel, erected upon piles, over the water -- has spacious porticos and is finely located. The hospital seems to be well managed, and the sick have every possible attention from the surgeons and attendants. Dr. Uphan, a Massachusetts man, is in charge. There are three hundred and twenty-five patients. . I have examined every part of the hospital, conversed with the surgeons, patients and attendants, and find everything as pleasant and satisfactory as possible. General Foster, who has always a fatherly care for the sick soldiers, has given his personal attention to the matter of rations, and the patients are now provided good, nourishing food. A week ago, a dozen Sisters of Mercy came here to nurse the sick. They devote themselves to all, not being limited to those of their own faith. They are doing a great work. Their wish seems to be law, and all their directions for the comfort of the sick are observed. Our soldiers express gratitude to these Sisters, closely veiled, moving about among the sick. A priest may be seen, at all hours, sitting by the dying beds of those of his 'persuasion.' There is not a Protestant minister to be had either to attend the dying Protestant soldier or give him Christian burial. Many of the men have spoken to me of this want of religious care. A member of the Massachusetts Twenty-fifth, detailed for duty here. is doing a great amount of good. [I wish now, that I had his name.] He is a Christian man, and told me that if a Protestant clergyman could not be had, he would himself perform the burial service over the Protestant dead. I advised him to do so. A wide field is here open for Protestant Christians, and, I presume, will sometime be occupied."
A large number of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts were in this hospital, among whom was John B. Moulton of Company K, [now in the Post-office Department, Washington, D. C.] whose miraculous cure from severe sickness, by Surgeon Rice, testifies to skill in his profession, and his zeal in applying the remedies and watching over a patient given up to die.
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TRENTON AGAIN.
July 25th, the Massachusetts Twenty-fifth, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sprague, joined by companies G and K, then on outpost duty, united with the Twenty-seventh Massa- chusetts and Belger's Battery, all under Colonel H. C. Lee, upon an expedition to Trenton. After passing " Deep gully," Captain Moulton, with Company H, went forward as advance guard, Lieutenant Forbes having command of the flankers. The enemy retired as our column advanced, and, at the " Kinston fork," companies H and I were stationed to hold the position. At the bridge the column halted long enough to extinguish the fire (for it was in flames) and to repair damage, when all crossed over. Beyond Trenton our cavalry charged upon the enemy, who retreated. The next day the force returned to New Berne. During this movement, the Seventeenth Massachusetts held the south side of the Trent river.
BAND DISCHARGED - VARIOUS MARCHES, ETC.
On the 6th of August, a reconnoissance in force, the Twenty- fifth Massachusetts being in the column, marched beyond our lines. The two companies at the outpost of the Trent. road, advanced position to Deep gully. The expedition returned the next day, and the detachment returned to Harrison's farm.
August 30th, the regimental band, under the lead of Wm. E. Gilmore, of Pawtucket, R. I., was discharged by orders from the War Department. The band of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts had achieved a most enviable musical reputation, and had come to be considered as really an integrant of the regiment. The management of Mr. Gilmore had been eminently successful. [Wm. E. Gilmore died suddenly in Pawtucket, R. I., May 3rd, 1879.] Under the new order concerning bands, each brigade was allowed to have one, but the regiments were compelled to confine themselves to the snare-drum and fife.
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September 7th, three companies of the Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts, D, F and K, marched to a point upon the Trent road, above the Harrison farm, and there took a position for the purpose of surprising a force of the enemy expected that night. The grounds of suspicion that the enemy would appear, are unknown. As a matter of course, we saw nothing of the Confederates, and in the morning returned to camp. Only if they had come, what a tumbling into the trap arranged for them ! and by the non-appearance, what a chance for glory was lost !
September 15th, the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, Major Pick- elt in command, embarked upon the steamers Ocean Ware and Patuxent ; the Seventeenth Massachusetts and Tenth Connect- icut Volunteers embarked upon other steamers, moved down the river, across Pamlico sound, passed Roanoke island into Albemarle sound, and up the Roanoke river to Plymouth. The expedition was under command of Colonel Upton.
" How much like home," was the general exclamation, as, ploughing through the waters of the beautiful Albemarle, we looked upon the northern shore, and observed a landscape scenery that is certainly unsurpassed in any other portion of eastern North Carolina. Groves of noble trees, extensive forests, beautiful fields capable of bearing the richest products that man demands. Occasionally, the fish houses along the shore, upon either side, indicate the mines of wealth contained in those waters, which, properly developed, would enrich the people of this section of the country. But these fields and fisheries were not cultivated and improved. The people, like those of many other sections of the Southern country, were satisfied to live from hand to mouth, taking little thought for any provision for a rainy day, and not over anxious to leave a fortune, or any part of one, to their heirs. Of course it is understood that there is not that necessity for labor and undying exertion that we find in the colder and more sterile States of the North and West. A very little clothing suffices
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Lieut. R. A. HACKER.
Lieut. C. SCHLENKER.
Capt. LOUIS WAGELY.
GEORGR WALLBERY.
Corp'I C. W. WILSON.
COMPANY G.
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to protect the body from the chilly winds of winter, and a rude hut, or a cheap wooden house, is all that is required as a shelter from the storms, while the carth yields a sufficient crop with little if any labor, aside from planting the seed, to furnish all the cereals and esculent roots, required for satisfac- tion of nature's wants. The woods are full of game easily obtained, and the waters are filled with finny and bivalve treasures, yielding readily to the fish-gig, hook or seine. Added to this, we find the natural effect of the climate produces an inertia, affecting all classes alike, so that an active man from a colder region, will, under the climatic influences, soon become as lazy, indolent and slothfol as those native and to the manor born.
A gentleman who was on the west coast of Africa a few years since, told us of efforts made to get the natives in the region of the Gold coast, to enrich themselves by commerce and the productions of their labor. The incident is worth stating here, because it furnishes a similitude of what we are trying to describe about the southern section of our country. After slavery was abolished, and the slave trade interdicted by the British Government, the missionaries connected with the Wesleyan Mission station on the Gold coast of Africa, obserr- ing the indolence of the natives, determined to show them what a little industry and energy could do, hoping they might profit by the example, get for themselves riches and add something to the commerce of the world. With this landable purpose in view, the missionaries leased land in a most beautiful and fertile valley on Sweet river, and engaged earnestly in culti- vating the soil. Here, with some labor of their own, and such native help as they could hire, they soon obtained large crops of cotton, sugar, indigo, spices and tropical fruits in plenteous variety. When their erops were ready for the harvest, they invited the chiefs and their clans to come and see what had been accomplished. The missionaries descanted upon the richness of the soil, how easy it was to obtain valuable
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rewards for a little labor, how, by their industry, they might make their ports great depots of commerce, exporting their productions, and, in return, receiving the products of other countries, and gold for their enrichment. The chiefs and their followers went off and considered the matter, and returned, whereupon, one of their number made known the decision in about these words :- " Plentee chop grow for we country, no want noffin -plentee warm, plentee game-plentee everything! White man, he work, we no work !" And that was the end of that missionary enterprise on Sweet river-the farm ran out, and its cultivated fields and luxurious crops are. no longer scen. The fact is, man won't work, if he can live comfort- ably, as he reckons comfort, without it. That remark holds good in all the southern States, as well as on the Gold coast of Africa.
As we digressed, our expedition reached Plymouth. It was late at night when we arrived there, and early in the morning when we left, upon the return to New Berne. The intention was to attack the enemy at Hamilton, but learning their force and strength of position from the most reliable authority, and that probably, if we went, we would not stand much upon the order of coming back, it was thought by Colonel Upton and other commanding officers, that we had better not. And we didn't.
A. steamboat excursion of five hundred miles-a change from camp duties -- better appetites and more life, is what the regiment gained in those few days.
October 6th, Company H went on picket duty near the Bray farm, and about a mile from Harrison's, where Camp " Wellington " was established, a name selected in honor of a patriotic citizen of Worcester.
It was soon after the expedition to Plymouth, as stated, that one of the company commanders returned to Camp Oliver from a tour of duty elsewhere, and was, on the succeeding day, detailed as officer of the day. The regimental commander
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intimated to him that he would like to see an improvement made in camp guard duty, which had become quite too tame for endurance, suggesting that the sentinels be infused with a little more energy, especially when receiving grand rounds. He would like to hear grand rounds challenged once more; "I want the camp waked up!" During the day, the sentinels were instructed thoroughly as to their duty, and, a little after midnight, having secured, as sergeant of grand rounds, a strong-voiced sergeant of Company - well, not to be per- sonal, of Company Q, whose roar might usually be heard as far off as general headquarters in New Berne, the officer of the day started on the rounds. Sentinels challenged promptly and with animation, and the sergeant of the grand rounds actually yelled his answers. The camp was " waked up," as much so, as if the "long roll " had sounded through the midnight air. Captains and lieutenants, sergeants, cor- porals and privates lifted their tent-flies, and, in their déshabille, looked out in wonderment. The Chaplain awoke from his pleasant dreams among the letters for home, bearing the love of the regimental rank and file, looked out-took in the situation and returned to his couch.
The Colonel heard the grand rounds and was undoubtedly well pleased with the execution of his suggestions, though the next day he was heartless enough to intimate that that sergeant had a little too much voice for a regimental camp, and had better be employed in sending messages by voice telegraph ( telephones were not then invented ) .to Anderson's camp across the Neuse.
The next morning the retiring officer of the day was assailed on all sides by his brother officers, who wanted to know why their repose should be disturbed by the infernal midnight rounds ? One of his brother officers, whose name we con- siderately conceal, but whose quarters were very near the left Hank of the camp, and whose midnight discussion of philosophi- cal and theological questions oft prevented a proper amount of
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"nature's sweet restorer," was truly indignant, and thus he gave utterance to his protest : -
"Mine gracious me! Shust you look here and giff me von rea- sohn for dat derrible sckare ! I don'd likes it pooty vell dot I gutes oop at midnight mit dat tam noise ov dat pig shargent ov gumpany Q; he shoods puts efryding be can find into his pig mouff, py tam!"
DEATH AND BURIAL OF A SOLDIER.
Private George E. Kent of Company H, Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts, died at the Regimental Hospital in New Berne, Octo- ber 10th, 1862. Many years before this, when the dead soldier was a prattling boy, the writer knew him and his family. We had stood by the bedsides of his dying father and an older brother, and from that time onward we had watched the growth and development of George, until we met him as a private in Company H. In seeking material for this history, we requested Sergeant H. Arthur White of Company H, to write out his recollections of the death and burial of young Kent, who was a mate of his in the town of their residence, Leicester. We give the letter received from Sergeant White, in response to our request : - ?
" Dear Captain : -
" You ask me to tell you something of the burial of young Kent of my company.
"The funeral procession consisted of an escort of eight men under command of a corporal, preceding a hospital wagon bearing the remains of the young soldier. This was followed, on foot, by three mourners, viz .: Hospital Chaplain J. Hill Rouse, yourself and the writer; and thus, out from the shaded streets of New Berne, out from a city full of soldiers and surrounded by the camps of thousands of troops, we passed on alone to bury our dead. We can never forget the sense of loneliness that filled our hearts, as, without even the tap of a muffled drum, we followed that boyish form to its early grave. Hundreds of his comrades of the regiment would gladly
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have done honor to his memory had they been permitted, and away off in his New England home, in old Leicester, our native town, hundreds more of the old and young would have crowded about his bier to express the sympathy they felt for his widowed mother and only sister, and do honor to the brave young soldier, friend and school-mate. We stood by his open grave while the worthy chaplain, [himself also from Leicester] read the impressive service of the Episcopal church -" Earth to earth -- ashes to ashes." And then you and myself, tenderly dropped into his grave, the little green sprig as a tribute of our love. As we stood there, I seemed to see his bright young face, as when, not a year before, he marched by my side away from his home and loved ones, scarcely eighteen years old, the youngest of us all. How well I remembered his look of disap- pointment when he learned that I was to go with the thirty detailed from Company H to make the first landing at Roanoke island, and how eagerly he asked me to get him permission to go with us. A few hours later we raised his slender form out of the water of the swamp, he being prostrated by a minie ball which struck him in the breast, and was turned from its deadly course by striking the ramrod of a small revolver he had in his pocket. A few weeks later, having refused to leave his place in the ranks and go to the hospital, and still suffering from an open wound, about landing at New Berne, he would not listen to advice to remain behind. He insisted upon going, and only the imperative command of our captain compelled him to defer to better judgment, and then, almost broken hearted, he sought the shelter of the baggage to hide his tears of disappoint- ment. And there, in that New Berne burial place, we put out of sight one full of noble ambition, of bright hopes. Ah! God was teaching us by this discipline to become veterans, that we might look death in the face and say with one of old -' Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.'
" With the usual parting salute of three volleys, we turned from the spot, and over his grave was inscribed : . George Emerson Kent, a private of Company H, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, died October 10th, 1862, at New Berne, N. C.' It was a simple record - the death record of one brave soldier boy - but how that «unple record, the record of one death, caused sorrow to many
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